Pivoted joint



July 2s, 1942. F. w. SLACK 2,291,112

PIVOTED JOINT Original Filed March 17, 1938 Patented July 28, 1942`PIVOTEI)l JINT Frederic W. Slack, Detroit, Mich., assgnor to ChryslerCorporation, Highland Park, Mich., a corporaticn ot Delaware f Originalapplication March 17, 1938, Serial No.

196,349, now Patent No. 2,198,680, dated vApril 30, 1940. Divided andthis application November 8, 1939, Serial No. 303,442 Y 1 claim. (onzer-93) 2,198,680, dated Apru 3o, 1940.

An object of the invention is the provision of means for sealing thearticulated connections between relatively movable parts, and moreparticularly to provide means of this character which is especiallyadapted toseal the articulated connections between relatively movableparts of a wheel suspension system.

Another object of the invention is the provision of sealing means of theforegoing type which is relatively inexpensive and which willeffectively prevent escapement of lubricant from the connection and alsoexclude foreign matter therefrom; and to provide sealing means which ispreferably yieldable and which will not deteriorate inthe presence oflubricants or greases.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be more apparent fromthe following description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a typical side portion of thefront end of a vehicle embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. v

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the'line 4 4 of Fig. 1.

Figs. 5.and 6 are enlarged sectional views simllar to Fig. 3, butillustrating modified forms of the seal shown therein.

The invention is illustrated and described in connection with a motorvehicle chassis including a frame structure generally indicated at Ihaving longitudinally extending transversely spaced channel-shaped siderails, one of which is shown at I I. The rails are connected adjacentthe forward end of the frame by a cross bracing I2.

A front steerable road wheel I3 is independently suspended for relativerising and falling movements with respect to the frame structure IB andwith respect to the remaining road wheels taken on of thel vehicle bysupporting and guiding mechanism comprising a steering knuckle I4 havinga spindle (not shown) on which the wheel I3 is journalled. The steeringknuckle I4 is pivotally connected by a king pin I with the generallyvertically extending knuckle bracket support arm I6. The latter isarticulated or pivoted at its upper and lower end portions respectivelywith the upper and lower laterally extending linkages I1 and I8 of thesuspension.

The lower linkage I8 is of the Wishbone type and includes a pair of armsI9 and 20 having their outer ends pivotally connected as at 2I with thelower end portion of the knuckle support I6. The inner ends of the armsI3 and 20 are vconnected to the cross bracing l2 by a shaft 22 securedto the latter by bolts 23. A connection between the shaft 22 and arm I9is more particularly shown lin Fig. 3, it being understood that theconnection between the other arm 20 and shaft 22 is the same. l

The shaft 22 has a threaded end portion extending into an eye of the armI9 and is connected to the latter by a, bushing 24 having its outersurface in threaded-engagement with the wall of the eye and its innersurface in threaded engagement with the shaft, thus accommodatingrelative movement between the linkage I8 and shaft 22 in response tovertical displacement of the wheel I3. Lubricant is admitted to theengaging threaded surfaces of the shaft and bushing through a suitablefitting 25 carried by a closure 26 for the outer end of the bushing.

For the purpose of conningthe lubricant to the threaded connection andalso for preventing foreign matter gaining access thereto, there isprovided a seal 21, preferably formed of rubber, or a material such asNeoprene, formerly called Duprene and chemically known as polymerizedchloroprene, having rubber-like characteristics and superior oil andheat resisting properties. The seal 21 overlaps the adjacent end portionof the bushing 24 and the adjacent non-threaded portion of the shaft 22,thus bridging that portion of the threaded surface of the shaft 22 whichis normally free from engagement with the bushing 24. The seal 21 is inthe form of an annular sleeve and is sumciently yieldable lso that whenassembled it securely engages the parts to prevent escapement oflubricant and exclude foreign matter from the connection, an innerannular rib-like portion 28 engaging that portion of the threadedsurface of shaft 22 which is normally free from engagement by thebushing 2,4. Preferably the seal is positioned axially between and abutsthe adjacent side face of the arm I9 and a shoulder 29 formed on theshaft 22.

The upper linkage I1 includes a pair of arms 30 and 3| having theirinner endspivotally supported from the frame bya shaft 32 carried by thelatter as more particularly pointed out in the aforesaid parentapplication. While the connection between the arm 30 and shaft 32 ispar- 2. ticularly shown in Fig. 4, it will be -understood that theconnection between the other arm 3l and the shaft 32 is the same. 'I'hearm 30 has an eye receiving an end portion of the shaft 32 and which isconnected thereto by a bushing assleeve 33 and the shaft 32 and relativemovement l0 between the latter and the linkage Il is accommodated b'ydeformation of the sleeve 34. An annular washer 35 of resilientmaterial, such as rubber, is disposed between the inner end of thesleeves 33, 34 and a metallic washer 36 bearing against a shoulder 31 ofthe shaft 32. The washer sleeve 35 seals the end portion of the bushingpreventing foreign matter from gaining access-to the interior surfacesthereof, and spaces and in-, sulates the metallic sleeve 33 from theshaft 32.

'Ihe arm 3i of the upper linkage terminates in a flattened end portionengageable with a jounce bumper 33 while the arm 30 extends outwardlytherebeyond and is formed to terminate in an end portion extendinggenerally longitudinally of the frame structure and forwardly thereoffor cantilever-like connection with the knuckle bracket support I6, asmore particularly shown in Fig. 2. The upper end of the support Iiterminates in a slit portion having an opening therein in which isreceived the threaded end portion of the arm 30. An eccentricbushing 33,disposed in the opening, has threaded engagement with the arm 30,provides for camber adjustment of the wheel i3, and is maintained in xedposition of adjustment by a suitable pin 40. Lubricant is admitted tothe threaded surfaces of the bushing and arm througha fitting 4i carriedby a closure 42 in the outer enlarged end of the bushing 39.

For the purpose of confining the lubricant to the aforesaid connectionand also for preventing foreign matter gaining access thereto, a sealformed of a material or materials similar to that set forth inconnection with the seal 2'| is provided. The seal 43 is in the form ofa sleeve which axially overlaps the adjacent end portion ofthe bushing33 and the adjacent nonthreaded portion of the arm 30 thus bridging thatportion of the threaded surface of the arm 30 which is normally freefrom engagement with the bushing 39. The seal is preferably so formed asto be sufiiciently yieldable so that when assembled it securely engagesthe parts to seal the connection and thus remains axially nxed althoughin the form shown herein it is further fixed against axial displacementbetween the side face of the support I6 against which it abuts and thebowed portion` of the arm 30.

`In Figs. 5 and 6 there are illustrated modified forms of the seal whichmay be substituted for the forms shown in Figs. 2 and 3. In Fig. 5 theseal includes an annular metallic housing 43 having a reduced portion 44resiliently gripping the bushing 24 and an enlarged .portion 45extending axially ofthe shaft 35' bridging that -portion of the threadedsurface of the shaft which'is normally free from engagement by thebushing 24. The portion 45 has a central opening accommodating the shaft35' and has disposed therein a quantity of felt or similar materialwhich cooperates with the housing to prevent escapement of lubricantfrom the connection as well as to prevent entry of foreign matterthereto.

In the embodiment 4of the invention shown in Fig. 6, the seal includesthe metallic housing 43' which resiliently grips the shaft 35' and thebushing 24 and is further maintained in position by wires 46 encirclingthe housing.

Although but several embodiments of the innected with the other of saidmembers, a bushing voperatively connecting said members and in rotatablethreaded engagement with said one member for accommodating relativemovement of said members, a portion of said threaded part being spacedfrom said bushing and normally exposed, and a sleeve-like resilientsealing element resiliently gripping said bushing and said one memberand bridging said normally exposed threaded portion, said element beingtorsionally stressed in response to relative movement of said v members.

FREDERIC W. SLACK.

